Sears' Parenting Sleep Technique

  I just put Adam to bed with the Sears parenting sleep technique.  If he cries or fusses, pick him up, soothe him and lay him back down.  Repeat until he goes to sleep on his own.  I stayed nearby so he could see me and know I was there, but did not talk to him much other than to say it was bedtime and to go to sleep.  It took an hour and 15 minutes, but he went to sleep on his own.  I hope to do this for a week and see if he can wean to sleep on his own every night instead of eating to sleep.  I moved his bed time feeding half an hour earlier to try to get him to sleep on a full belly, but on his own.  He is a good self soother.  I think this is what I am going to stick to as a bed time routine to get him to go to bed on his own.  Then I have to wake him in the morning to set a nap schedule.  Should be good over this next month.  In the process he scratched himself to bleed enough that I could see it by the night light.  I had to stop in the middle and file his nails down further.  I usually think I got all the sharp edges trimmed and he usually proves me wrong by scratching himself.  Right before pictures no less.  Oh, Adam.  Good night.  Please stay asleep now. Amen.

2 Goals

  I only had 2 goals today, despite the scheduled appointment and other duties already planned.  I wanted to make soup and to workout for a measly 30 minutes.  Guess if I have accomplished these 2 goals or not?  Nope.  I am tired and not motivated.  I am ready for bed despite the hour.  I need to just get up and do it, but Adam is sleeping and I do not want to wake him in the same room the workout would take place.  Ah.  What to do?  The soup can get done, it is just all the prep work that kills it for me.  The rinsing of veggies, chopping and stirring to prevent burning.  I need 30 minutes for the soup too.  A wink of sleep would be good.  Ah, my arms are numb and achy after the massage I had today as well.  Much needed for my muscles though.

  I ordered a rug today for Adam's crawling and my stretching.  I hope it is everything I have built it up in my mind to be.  So excited for my hemp and leather rug from India.  We will see.  I also ordered a present for someone's birthday today.  So many birthdays coming up, I do not know what to get.  I feel all gifts I give are inadequate because I do not know what they actually want, they will not tell me what they want, and I am not psychic.  I am good intentioned, but who knows if the presents are well received.  I can only hope they get some joy in the knowledge that I was thinking about them.  Time to get going.  Wish me good energy and sleep.  Thank you.

TV Addiction

OK, Mad Men, Nurse Jackie, Grimm, Once Upon A Time... my TV addiction is tough to give up with this precious boy taking all of my time.  No TV for a little one.  It's good for me.  I thought I'd get more done if I did not watch TV, but I get less done than ever entertaining this smart young man.  He is getting too smart.  Now we have to buy a rug for the wood floor so he can cruise on to the next level of crawling, walking in his future.  Man, how time flies.  Wish I had time to read books.  I have lots of time to think, I could write my own book with all of that, but I do not have the time to get it all onto paper.  Hah.  I see some Pom Martinis in my future.  Mmm.... yes, I will share with you.  Delicious!

Planning this trip and then packing for it will be an adventure in and of itself.  Oh man, tomorrow is May!!!  What an expensive and fast month this will be.  Lots of birthdays, travel and memories to be made.  I cannot wait and yet I want to make it last.  Swimming sounds so fun!  Adam in a pool, yoo hoo.  Hope he sleeps so I can sleep tonight.  I wish you could bottle sleep.  I would buy it by the gallon and guzzle it up.  Never thought I would say that in my life.  The most precious thing these days is sleep.  Elusive and pleasureful sleep.  Ah. Now for more water and to talk to my sis before hitting the pillow.  Teething was a rough day today.  We shall see what the night brings.  Peaceful silence is my prayer.  Yes please.

He is such a sitter

He was trying with all his might to sit up on his own from a laying position today.  He did nap well because of it.  He wants to be on the move so badly, horribly frustrating for him.  So cute.  He is stretching out and will be toddling soon.  LOVE his stripe pants.  PJ's are the best.  Cannot wait for the pictures I finally ordered of him to come in.  Snail mail is tough in this instant gratification world.  Hah.

So Tired

  LOVING the sunshine, but MAD that the temperature is not warm enough to take Adam out without a jacket on.  I am going stir crazy.  I cannot concentrate for a number of reasons, the 3 hours of sleep I got last night is a great contributing factor I am sure.  I do not know what Adam is waking up for, too much to eat, teeth pain, too hot, too cold, overly tired, etc.  No idea and no way to find out.  He is screaming right now and Tony is trying to sooth him to sleep, but now it is time for me to intervene.  No sleep tonight again.  Tomorrow I wanted to get something done.  Not looking promising.  Poor kid.  Whatever is bothering him, it must be terrible.  It is times like these I wish he could talk.  So tired.  So tired.  He is so big, stretching out, looking more like a toddler every day.  Sweet, sweet boy.

  Congrats Mark Sarazin for graduating.  Amazing achievement.  You da man.  Now, go get the world. Get'em.  Now, what makes a good graduation gift?

At the office

Going home from the office

Where's Adam... Here he is!

Found his feet, now his toes go in his mouth

Teeth :)

Rolling, rolling, rolling

Had To Share

Love Vanicream! This cream has cleared all eczema from my baby's body. I apply at the joints daily and full body every other day. Such a relief.
Love the air purifier! Adam has not woke up from stuffed up sinuses since we turned it on. My head has felt better too. So grateful.
Love pure Vaseline for chapped cheeks! The redness and rough texture is much diminished after a day applying to his chapped cheeks. Even the weepy areas look better by the end of the day.  I have to constantly apply as he rubs/scratches it off, but it's worth it.
Love the jumper roo! He is finally figuring out the standing in this and it helps him so much as this 22.4 pound boy is too heavy to hold up all the time for standing practice. He loves all the toys on it too. So fun. It allows up to 15 minutes hands free time if I'm within eye sight right now. So useful.
Love Rockin Green detergent. It gets out food and poop stains with ease.

Chia, Martini and Krispy Kreme

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/04/chocolate-peanut-butter-chia-pudding.html

Going to take the plunge and try out the chia food that everybody is talking about.  I'm excited as it fits into my new diet for life that I'm currently evolving into.  I'm flipping my idea of meals on it's head.  Soup for breakfast, lunch for dinner, etc.  I'm excited to move forward and I feel so good.

Also, I had to have a Pom Martini this weekend and this is the inspiration recipe.  We added more orange liqueur and vodka to taste.  DELICIOUS!  Hit the spot for sure.  Easy to make and a new favorite to make at home.  I do not have to go to San Francisco or Green Bay for my favorite Pom Martini's anymore.  Sweet.

http://www.food.com/recipe/oprahs-pomegranate-martini-146320

Ready to walk outside without bundling up.  Poor Adam and I are going stir crazy!  I indulged in Krispy Kreme, maple was the best!  Now I have to work it out.  Love to feel more energized and to get out into the sun will do us both some good.

Bed time!  Massage tomorrow :)

Good Day Today

  Good day today, despite the 3 hours of sleep I got.  I had a 6 AM acupuncture appointment that just made me feel great.  Such a pick me up!  Worth all the lack of sleep I got.  We got to go to State Wide to work a little and visit a little.  We went to an eye appointment that he slept through until the end to pleasantly wake to meet the doctor before we left.  We got Krispy Kremes from the high school for a fundraiser.

  I have to admit I gave into temptation.  I had been doing so good, but the Krispy Kremes are such a rare treat.  Oh, the original glazed and especially the maple were calling my name.  I know I will pay for it in the long run, but oh so sweet and melt in my mouth deliciousness.  Unbelievable how evil those things are. Time to flex my "good for me" will power tomorrow to resist or indulge in moderation.

  Planning for summer trips and seminar excursions.  Man how time flies.  I need to get on it or we won't have seminars booked.  I need to get CE, but it will be tricky this year.  We may have to make an extra trip for me next year when Adam is more mobile.  We'll see.

  Found out what was keeping Adam up all night every hour, now to solve why he wakes 1 hour after he goes to sleep like clock-work. He does not eat and is dry. I have no idea what makes him wake crying? After that he sleeps the rest of the night. New challenge to figure out. Game on.

Out and about today

5 Months Old

 Loving my boy.  Tough time teething with 4 coming in right now.  Two broken through and 2 in the process.  Poor thing!  He is so sweet.  He gets up every hour typically.  I hope that goes away once the teeth break through.  Fingers crossed.  Cannot wait for his next check-up to see how much he has grown.

 He is great on road trips and I am thankful for that.  We have been going into the real estate office as much as possible when I sleep well enough to get up and go.  Wish the energy level would pick up, but in due time.  Excited for our upcoming trip to Arizona to visit my niece who will graduate from high school.  I am a little jealous of her with her whole life ahead of her.  No regrets, just nostalgia sometimes.  Hind sight is 20/20 and she is like me in that she has to learn the hard way rather than taking advice or acknowledging what is right in front of my face.  Que serra, serra...

 Not pleased about this bout of snow!  Wish the warm would just come and stay already.  I could use some warm sunshine.  I hope there will be some good swimming weather in our future this summer.  Hoping to procure a swing set so we can enjoy our yard as well.  Maybe a sand box also.  Fun.

 Some friends come and go, some stick by you through thick and thin, some fade into the darkness and others seem to be in the background to come out when they feel like it.  I miss my friends, but I never get sick of my husband.  I guess that's why I married him.  He has been so good to me, I really could not ask for more.  Tough seeing that and being properly thankful for him sometimes.  My own fault.

Bed time!!!!!

Quick Note

Hoppy Easter!

Adam is cutting 3 brand new teeth now!  So fun (and exhausting).
Vanicream is the BEST for eczema and dry skin.  LOVE that I found this product.
Adam is 5 months old today!  Loving my men.  Longing to be closer to family, but home is where the heart is and I hold those far away close in my heart always.
Time to sleep!

My sweet little man

First Tooth!

  On March 30, we discovered Adam's first tooth had cut through the gums (#24).  He did not sleep well that night.  He was up every 1-2 hours all night long!  Horrifically tired.  So tired, I could barely think, let alone walk.  Last night was much better, I got 6 hours sleep.  Turns out he just wanted to be fed one more time.  He has now pushed his bed time to 1 AM rather than 12.  Not a good thing.  I have been struggling with being functional, but know this period will not last forever.  He is now grabbing everything.  Dishes or utensils I am holding, neck or behind the arm skin, anything really.  He is so strong, the grabbing does not feel very good.  Now he has to be taught not to do that so much.

  Still have a few acupuncture tacks on and I love the effect they are having on me.  What a life saver.  Now only if they could induce sleep, I would be fantastic.  Stiff neck from the sleep I did get last night.  On to another bleary eyed day on Palm Sunday.  Next week Adam turns 5 months old on Easter Sunday.  Cannot wait to take his picture.  Not sure what he will wear.  We had to buy more pants for him as all his jeans seem to be too small now.

  Time for some apple crisp for breakfast.  Tony is sweet to make it for me gluten free.  Now if only I can get him to make it apple skin free as well.

Pic from Taco Night in Lake Linden.  Lizzy cannot get enough of that bib